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Swiss researchers discovered a class of antibiotics that targets Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other forms of drug-resistant, gram-negative bacteria by inhibiting a protein essential for developing the bacteria's outer cell membrane. Swiss biotech firm Polyphor is in discussions with drugmakers as it seeks to license POL7080, its lead drug candidate against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, said Michael Altorfer, the company's chief financial officer.

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Cubist Pharmaceuticals is developing drugs to combat gram-negative bacteria that resist existing antibiotics, such as pseudomonas and klebsiella, while rivals focus more on drugs for gram-positive bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The market for Cubist's candidate against K. pneumoniae and E. coli could reach $2 billion by 2020, according to Cowen & Co. analyst Ian Sanderson. "Particularly with gram-negatives, we now face a time when we're rather short of antibiotics, and treatment is becoming more difficult," said David Livermore, with the U.K. Health Protection Agency.

Treatments for gram-negative bacteria are rarely pursued by drugmakers because of the bacteria's drug resistance, according to The New York Times. The lack of drugs also stems from the reluctance of developers to invest in antibiotics. The few candidates against gram-negative infection have increased in value, and big companies are licensing them from Calixa Therapeutics and other smaller firms.

Treatments for gram-negative bacteria are rarely pursued by drugmakers because of the bacteria's drug resistance, according to The New York Times. The lack of drugs also stems from the reluctance of developers to invest in antibiotics. The few candidates against gram-negative infection have increased in value, and big companies are licensing them from Calixa Therapeutics and other smaller firms.

Treatments for gram-negative bacteria are rarely pursued by drugmakers because of the bacteria's drug resistance, according to The New York Times. The lack of drugs also stems from the reluctance of developers to invest in antibiotics. The few candidates against gram-negative infection have increased in value, and big companies are licensing them from Calixa Therapeutics and other smaller firms.

Swiss researchers discovered a class of antibiotics that targets Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other forms of drug-resistant, gram-negative bacteria by inhibiting a protein essential for developing the bacteria's outer cell membrane. Swiss biotech firm Polyphor is in discussions with drugmakers as it seeks to license POL7080, its lead drug candidate against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, said Michael Altorfer, the company's chief financial officer.